LACROSSE, Wis. – The city Arts Board issued a call for vandals who damaged the “Hatched Baby” sculpture at City Hall to turn themselves in. The vandals can help in the process of figuring how best to restore the work, the Board said. The Board also went into a lecture mode on respecting art in the public sphere. Art, the Board said, is subject to scrutiny, risk and sometimes outrage, and even enthusiastic debate. ‘It is for the observer to distinguish their thoughts and feelings about the work of art,” the Board said. “Work of art do not solely need to elicit feelings of joy. Art can evoke sadness, anger, thoughtfulness, and a myriad of other feelings.” Vandalism is inappropriate for expressing distaste or disgust, the Board said and offered these examples:
> The controversial Hiawatha statue at Riverside Park was removed as public art only after extensive community debate. Hiawatha’s removal, by the way, had the Board’s support.
> Lengthy and thoughtful and respectful public debate has preceded the removal of he hundreds of Confederate monuments in recent years.